Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium
Belgium: Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person was 37.48 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium is 37.48, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium peaked at 40.05 in 1983 and was at its lowest, 36.39, in 2023.
Belgium ranks 72nd of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 40.05 | — |
| 1984 | 39.74 | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 39.64 | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 39.38 | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 38.76 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 38.48 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 38.4 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 38.4 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 37.89 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 37.93 | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 37.35 | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 37.46 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 37.65 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 37.39 | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 37.46 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 37.92 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 37.02 | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 36.99 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 37.36 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 37.3 | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 37.14 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 36.79 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 36.89 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 36.68 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 36.94 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 36.65 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 36.65 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 36.77 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 36.69 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 36.79 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 37.09 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 36.98 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 36.94 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 36.89 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 36.98 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 36.99 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 37.01 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 36.88 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 36.97 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 36.86 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 36.39 | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 36.46 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 37.48 | +2.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 37.48 is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.94, 96% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 37.48 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39.22, 96% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 39.21 | 38.4 | 40.05 | 7 |
| 1990s | 37.65 | 37.02 | 38.4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.94 | 36.65 | 37.36 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.91 | 36.69 | 37.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.84 | 36.39 | 37.48 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More work & labour data for Belgium
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1676 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1614 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1395 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,349 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,498 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,563 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 11,061 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium?
- Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Belgium was 37.48 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 40.05 in 1983.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.39 in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person?
- Belgium ranks 72nd out of 88 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The concept of hours usually worked relates to the typical value of hours actually worked in a job per a short reference period such as one week, over a long observation period of a month, quarter, season or year that comprises the short reference measurement period used. The typical value may be the modal value of the distribution of hours actually worked per short period over the long observation period, where meaningful. The short reference period for measuring hours usually worked should be the same as the reference period used to measure employment. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.